Executive Perspective
Harnessing Kids’ Tech Fascinationby DANIEL A. DOMENECH
I am intimidated by people like Alan November whose fingers glide over their
computer keys and in the process go to websites that offer the answers to all
the questions that would otherwise go unanswered. I do e-mail and an
occasional PowerPoint presentation. I am proud of the fact I now can do e-mail
on my BlackBerry as well. That’s the extent of my prowess in technology.
Daniel A. Domenech
Jillian, my 17-year-old high school senior, is another story. She sleeps with
her iPhone under her pillow. If it were waterproof, I am sure that she would
bathe with it. She does incredible things with her MacBook, from videos to post
on YouTube to the content of her Facebook pages. Getting her to do her homework
is a challenge, but getting her to turn off her tech tools and go to sleep is an
even bigger challenge.This is the message that November, Keith Krueger
and other presenters at our AASA Seattle Summit in midsummer conveyed: Education
is missing the boat by not taking advantage of the love affair between our kids
and technology.Personal PanicI was a young
superintendent